Derry Matthews-Choi Tseveenpurev II (second): Sky Sports in England televises a regular series called "Prizefighter," in which eight boxers in the same division compete in a one-night tournament with each bout scheduled for three rounds.

Nobuyuki Nozawa has been fascinated by Mongolia since he was a child--particularly its people's nomadic lifestyles--but not even he could have foreseen he would end up helping combat viral hepatitis in Ulan Bator.

Noted athlete B.Ser-Od has ended 2010 with winning the Hoju Yomiuri marathon in Japan, finishing first in a field of 1,800 competitors from all over Asia and Africa. He earlier won the Brighton marathon in England.

China controlling nearly 95% of rare earth minerals production globally and the possibility of demand exceeding supply in the short to medium term provides a strong incentive for Japanese, U.S. and European investment in Mongolian rare earth mining and the associated export infrastructure links, says a research note prepared by Eurasia Capital.

Ch. Khashchuluun, Chairman of the National Development and Innovation Committee, has said the emphasis in their work plan for economic development in 2011 is on optimal use of financial resources by using local indices, the first time this will be done.

The Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy approved on December 28 the terms of Mongolia borrowing USD12 million from the International Development Association (IDA) for the program “Development Policy Financing-2”. However, the members instructed the Government to spend less on trainings and seminars.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ In accordance with a decree of the Mongolia's President Ts.Elbegdorj, some foremost media workers were awarded Wednesday with state prizes for their significant contributions to strengthening valuables of democratic society and developing free journalism.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The prize named after the President of Mongolia for young scholars was awarded Wednesday. The State Head has granted the prizes to three scholars from the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia (ASM).

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ A ceremony took place Wednesday in the Government House to grant the prize named after the Prime Minister to the best children of the year 2010. These children have shown brilliant successes in arts, sports and in studying.

The toughness of the Mongol warrior often determined the outcome of a battle. In 1221, at the Battle of Indus, the Turkish Army of Jellalud-din took up an excellent defensive position beside the Indus, its flanks protected by the mountains and a bend in the river.

The commodities rally going into the New Year showed no signs of slowing on Tuesday, with copper hitting its second record high in as many days and most markets rising in thin trading amid seasonal holidays.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

FORT COLLINS - A team of researchers from Colorado State University's Warner College of Natural Resources has been awarded a $1.5 million National Science Foundation grant to study the impact of climate change on rangeland-based ecosystems and livelihoods of pastoralists in Mongolia.

Coal sector representatives from Mongolia will join a consultative meeting in Tianjin in China on January 6, organized by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Mineral Resources Authority and the Mongol Coal Association.

The Confederation of Trade Unions (CTU), NSB television and the Mongolian Employers’ Federation issued a joint appeal on December 27 asking citizens to buy more domestically produced goods and food items.

The Mongolian National Mining Association and Energy Resources LLC recently decided after a meeting that the present manpower situation in the country called for a review of a 1999 decree that bars women from operating heavy machinery.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The Prime Minister S.Batbold received Tuesday a delegation led by D.Sumyabazar and Ya.Sodbaatar, first vice-presidents of the Mongolia's Free-Style Wrestling Federation (MFSWF).

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The meeting of the parliamentary Standing committee on security and foreign policy discussed Tuesday a financial agreement on finance and payment for developmental policy, established between the government of Mongolia and the International Development Association (IDA).

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ Ceremony took place December 23, 2010 in Bangkok city, Thailand to join Mongolia to an agreement on cooperation with the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES).

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The World Masters competitions for the best 16 judoists ranked by the International Judo Federation (IJF) will take place January 15-16, 2011 in Baku city, Azerbaijan.

S.Batbold, Prime Minister and head of the national council for the ‘Third Campaign for Reclaiming Virgin Lands’ agrarian development program, gave a speech at the national council’s meeting at the State House.

In 1921, Mongolia, with support of Soviet Russia, started to become a modern country. Since that time, Mongolia started to adopt some current holiday practices, such as New Years, International Women’s Day and Mongolian Army Day (Men’s Day).

The Canadian group Fraser Institute recently dubbed Mongolia the second-worst destination for mining companies, but, nestled deep between Russia and China, this once-overlooked country plays host to potentially some of the world"s largest mineral deposits - a fact that cannot be ignored by the global mining industry, says a report in Interactive Investor.

The newly opened Sain Us airport in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, 27 km from Ereen city and 32 km from the border with Mongolia, is likely to serve flights to Ulaanbaatar and to the Far Eastern areas of the Russian Federation in the near future.

Residents in five aimags including Uvs, Khovd and Zavkhan, have told Gal Undesten Union officials that a large quantity of meat is regularly smuggled to China in trucks carrying coal. Between 600 and 700 tons of sheep and goat meat is smuggled daily.

HONG KONG Dec 28 (Reuters) - Miners bidding for Mongolia's Tavan Tolgoi, which could become one of the world's largest coal mines, have to submit a proposal for upfront payment to win the deal, the South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday.

Monday, December 27, 2010

December 23 (Leyshon) Leyshon Resources Limited (AIM:LRL, ASX:LRL) (Company) advises that it has today lodged the attached Admission Document with the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange pursuant to its readmission to trading on AIM.

A Korea Development Bank (KDB) delegation headed by its Chairman and CEO, Euoo-Sung Min, recently called on Prime Minister S.Batbold to express their interest in cooperating with Mongolia in running the recently established National Development Bank.

The Standing Committee on Nature, Environment, Food and Agriculture decided on December 22 to forward to Parliament the proposal to allocate MNT1.8 trillion to a national program on climate change that will be spent on environmental protection, including post-mining reclamation.

The Millennium Challenge Foundation (MCF) has handed over ambulance vehicles with medical equipment and training facilities worth USD285 million to hospitals and health organizations throughout the country.

Parliament passed on December 23 the law draft on procedures to amend the Constitution. Earlier, the final discussion at the Standing Committees had been marked by acrimony and dispute, but the approval by Parliament was comparatively uneventful.

Construction work in Ulaanbaatar city this year has cost MNT21.4 billion or 43.5% more than in 2009. This includes MNT16.4 billion spent on building and street repair work done by foreign and domestic companies.

Two DP MPs, Ya. Batsuuri and E. Bat-Uul, have expressed concern that state-owned companies are “used as milk cows” by those in power and said that until there is operational transparency in them, they “will remain hotbeds of corruption”.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ A delegation headed by Lieutenant-General Ts.Byambajav, head of the General Headquarters of Mongolia's Armed Forces (GHMAF) paid an official visit December 21-23 to People's Republic of China at an invitation of the Colonel-General Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff Department of People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ Initiated and established by State Honored Sportsmen Kh.Tsagaanbaatar, E.Badar-Uugan and B.Naranbaatar, the "Together for success" NGO has granted the "Successor of Champions" prize to FIDE Master D.Nomin-Erdene.

A fascinating study of how democracy is faring in East Asia, released late last year, deserves a closer look, particularly at this time of financial crisis, when self-styled socialist countries (think China and Vietnam) are doing relatively well after turning to the market economy and governments in the capitalist countries are taking over banks and other private enterprises.

The recent Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament ended in victory for yet another foreign sumo wrestler--Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho, a very familiar name on the list of basho winners these days. That marked a victory drought of roughly five years since a Japanese sumo wrestler was last crowned champion.

Dec 25 (Reuters) - Itochu Corp (8001.T), Sumitomo Corp (8053.T) and two Japanese trading firms will jointly bid for rights to a large Mongolian coal mine, along with a South Korean consortium and a state-owned Russian company, the Nikkei business daily said.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The cabinet meeting held Wednesday approved a Mongolia-Russia inter-governmental agreement on regulation of financial responsibility of Mongolia to the Russian Federation (RF) which was signed December 14, 2010 in Moscow, Russia.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The government discussed and approved Wednesday an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in combating against human trafficking, between Mongolia and Macau, a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ On Wednesday, the cabinet meeting considered results of the state visit of the President Ts.Elbegdorj to Japan paid November 15-19 and decided to submit them to the National Security Council.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ Mongolia's National Olympic Committee (MonNOC) has organized a seminar for heads of Olympic councils of aimags and the city's districts. The main purposes of the action are to spread and develop sports in rural areas and to propagandize international Olympic ideology among children and youths.

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Mining takeovers, heading for the second best year on record, are shifting to the emerging markets of Africa and Asia as BHP Billiton Ltd., Rio Tinto Group and Xstrata Plc look to seal cheaper deals in less-explored areas.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 22, 2010) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN)(NYSE:IVN)(NASDAQ:IVN) announced today that rights to be issued under the company's previously announced rights offering will begin trading on a "when issued" basis on Thursday, December 23, 2010, on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "IVN.RT," on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol "IVN RT WI" and on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol "IVN.Z."

The Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy has unanimously approved the proposed agreement between Mongolia and China to send convicted prisoners to their home countries. Mongolia already has a similar agreement with Canada and South Korea. Once the agreement is concluded, the exchange of prisoners can start within three months.

City officials have been demanding more economic powers and authority for long but no decision has yet been taken. Meanwhile, next year’s state budget shows an MNT26-billion deficit for the city and the Civil Representative Assembly will meet on December 23 to discuss and pass the city’s budget of 2011.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ An international seminar of parliamentary research services of Asian countries has been held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, at an initiative of the Research Service of the South Korea's National Assembly.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ Head of the State Commission on Management and Organization of the Rehabilitation of Politically Repressed (CMORPR), Vice Speaker N.Enkhbold gave a report Monday on works done by the commission since its establishment in 1990. This meeting was also a ceremony to close the commission's 20th anniversary actions.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ A delegation headed by G.Batkhuu, a Vice Speaker of Mongolia, has visited Germany's Berlin, Dresden and Freiberg cities at an invitation of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

Global steel production is set to increase by nearly two-thirds in 2020, anticipates Peabody, the bulk of which will be in India and China. And, as the biggest American coal company playing in the Asian market, Peabody is pressing its case in the form of acquisitions and infrastructure expansions.

The leading St. Petersburg museums, the Hermitage and the Chamber of Rarities and Curiosities, are entering into cooperation with museums in Asia and Africa. The first contacts have been established with Mongolia and Kenya. At the present stage, the Russian museums are assisting their foreign colleagues with forming exhibitions dedicated to the history of their countries.

Chinese National Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and Tserendejid Byambajav, the visiting chief of general staff of the Mongolian armed forces, met in Beijing Tuesday and pledged to enhance bilateral military cooperation.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The FINANCIAL -- A $2.5 million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help Mongolia overhaul its savings and credit cooperative market and provide basic financial education nationwide, particularly for poor households.

Prime Minister S.Batbold’s aim to adopt European standards in Mongolia received a boost with the signing on December 20 of a Collaboration and Partnership Agreement between Mongolia and the European Union.

The annual Goyol show has always been the biggest gathering of Mongolian fashion designers and models, but Goyol-2011 also brought to viewers designers from Russia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan. E.Selenge was adjudged.

The MPP group in Parliament met on December 20 to discuss the law draft on the election. A working group had earlier reviewed the MPP Managing Council’s understanding of the Constitution that an MP can only be directly elected by voters and its suggestion that the new structure should allow representation from local people.

The National Council of the three-year Atar-3 project, initiated by S.Bayar when he was Prime Minister to increase agricultural production, met on December 20 to review final results. Several aimag Governors urged continuance of the project so that its gains could be consolidated.

Khan Resources LLC of Canada owns 58% of the Central Asian Uranium Co., which has worked in the Mardai uranium deposit in Dornod aimag, while Monatom LLC of Mongolia and ARMZ LLC of Russia own 21% each.

The aim of the recent Competitive Mongolia exhibition was to demonstrate that a “strong Mongolia can be established only by allowing domestic producers, goods and service providers to participate in the grand development of mining in the Mongolian Gobi”, according to its joint organizers, the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mongol 999 national consortium.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of Croatia J.Enkhsaikhan has presented his letter of credence to the Croatian President Ivo Josipovic.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The Prime Minister, head of the national council for the "Third Campaign for Reclaiming Virgin Lands" agrarian development program S.Batbold gave a speech at the national council's meeting held Monday in the Government House.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The representation of Mongolia's powers--President Ts.Elbegdorj, the Speaker D.Demberel and the Prime Minister S.Batbold--received Tuesday the heads of diplomatic missions and international organization in Mongolia.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ Mongolia's University Sports Federation (MUSF) has selected the top students--sportsmen, sportswomen and a team of the year 2010. On Tuesday, the top ones received prizes in the Central Sports Palace.

Predatory capitalism has invaded Mongolia -- the savage western hordes overrunning the land -- and but for the recent Hollywood movie spectacle Mongol [1] and colorful travel magazine articles no one in America hears much of anything about the place.

L.Bayankhuu won Mr.Mongolia-2010 title and bagged MNT10 million cash prize in the 19th Mongolian National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, which was organized by Mongolian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation in Culture’s Center Palace on December 18, 2010.

Until the 1990s, Mongolia was a member of the Eastern bloc. Therefore, the Mongolian diplomatic community was represented by socialist countries. Now, most former socialist countries shut down their embassies. We do not have any more embassies from Hungary, Poland, and Romania etc. For ambassadors from these countries, Mongolia was another socialist country, and it was mostly clear.

The head of Ulaanbaatar Railway, T.Ochirkhuu, has indicated that the USD125 million Russia has indicated it will add to the joint venture company’s capital is most likely to be used to buy 50 locomotives.

The demand for electricity continues to increase along with the population of the capital city. It is believed that 15,000 households live without electricity. The Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy puts the figure at 6,776 and Minister D.Zorigt has said these have been denied electricity connection as they have no permission to own land.

A Christmas fair was inaugurated in the Children’s Park on December 17 and will continue until December 31. Daily programs are scheduled from 10 am to 9 pm. Other attractions at the park during the festive season are representations in ice of the seven wonders of the world, including the pyramids of Egypt, the great wall of China, the Eiffel Tower of France and the Taj Mahal of India. There will be fireworks every day at 7.30 pm and spectators can choose their own display.

Australian-backed and Mongolia-focused minerals explorer and developer Xanadu Mines Ltd. closed its Initial Public Offer (IPO) oversubscribed and expects to list on the Australian Securities Exchange on December 21. Through its IPO, Sydney-based Xanadu sought to raise AUD21 million at 60c a share and the offer received a significant level of support from a broad cross section of local and international investors.

Deputy Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry Kh. Zoljargal has said the recent outbreak of the foot and mouth disease was the first in Mongolia since 2001, and actually came at a time when the Government was planning to write to the WHO that Mongolia was free of the disease. He guessed the infection had come from antelope which travel to and from China, but did not answer a question on whether “China had deliberately sent infected antelope across the border”.

Parliament Speaker D.Demberel has said it is unfortunate that the feeling is widespread in the country that someone stealing MNT100,000 gets to spend 10 years in jail, but those stealing several billions live in honor and dignity.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia G.Zandanshatar received Monday Mrs. Shoko Noda, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Mongolia. She is to return home soon.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ Mongolia and the European Union (EU) initialed Monday a partnership and cooperation agreement in Ulaanbaatar, successfully finishing the stage of the talks. The agreement has been initialed by B.Bolor, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, and by Mr. Franz Jessen, a head of the European Commission's unit for Mongolia.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the USA to Mongolia Mr. Jonathan Addleton has given a lecture to students of the International Relations School at Mongolia's State University (MSU), the U.S Embassy in Mongolia said Monday.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The first forum dedicated to the governmental purchase activity has been co-organized by the Ministry of Finance, the "Mercy Corps" international organization, and the "Developmental center of purchase activity" NGO.

Monday, December 20, 2010

The South Korean Immigration Office says193 of the 2,500 Mongolian women married to Korean citizens have taken Korean citizenship. Korean men are said to prefer marrying foreigners as Korean women do not want to have many children.

Mining companies have come together to oppose the Government’s decision to review and revoke licenses of explorers and extractors in river basins and forest areas. Altogether 254 licenses held by gold mining companies have already been identified for cancellation.

The city authorities have accepted recommendations in a feasibility study conducted by the Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Light Industry on replacing the present Hargia waste water treatment plant with a new one that will use newer technology and have more capacity.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of Greece Ts.Gankhuyag presented Wednesday his diplomatic credentials to Karolos Papoulias, the President of Greece.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ On December 16, 2010, staff from the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Mongolia donated free publications and teaching materials for use by Peace Corps volunteers during participation in the Peace Corps "Partnership Fair".

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ An international master of sports G.Boldbaatar won a gold medal in the Judo Grand Prix took place December 17-18 in Qingdao city, China. Some 250 judoists from 31 countries have competed in the competition. Mongolia has been represented by 12 male and seven female judoists.

It has been around 20 years since Mongolia transited to market economy; however the energy sector did not make a transition to market economy. As a result, heating and electricity services continue to be provided at prices lower than production costs which leads to the sector to suffer permanent losses and rely on State subsidies.

Since February 2008, the Human Security Policy Studies Centre HSPSC,NGO, has been implementing the‘Project to Combat Human Trafficking in Mongolia’ under a grant from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). One of the main objectives of the project has been to raise public awareness to help prevent and protect citizens from being victimized, as well as to help focus the attention and resources needed to tackle this crime.

Voyager Resources Limited (ASX:VOR) announces that it has commenced diamond core drilling at its 100% owned Khongor Copper Gold Porphyry Project located in the World Class Oyu Tolgoi Copper Belt of the South Gobi Province of Mongolia.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ A partnership and cooperation agreement between Mongolia and the European Union will be initialed December 20 in Ulaanbaatar. Fro this purpose, a delegation is to arrive headed by Mr. Franz Jessen, a head of the European Commission's unit for Mongolia.

Last year, Mongolia was hit by a devastating “dzud,” – an extremely harsh winter that follows a very dry summer. With heavy snow, and temperatures as low as -40 to -50C, large parts of the rural population were unable to access any form of healthcare. Hospitals and clinics were damaged, infant mortality rose significantly and the government declared a national emergency.